When the weather is right, nothing beats enjoying a cold cocktail or beer outside on the patio of a great watering hole. Luckily Cherokee Street has some of the best patios in St. Louis to do just that. Explore the patios in the district in the guide below and perhaps find a few you never even knew were there.
The Whiskey Ring — 2651 Cherokee
Go for: the largest patio on the street; the heated outdoor full bar on chilly nights
Opened in 2018 and expanded during the pandemic, the patio at Whiskey Ring is the largest on Cherokee Street, offering a full outdoor bar, several picnic benches and round tables, floor shuffleboard and a fire pit. Locals love the heated outdoor bar on chillier nights, as well as the cocktails and the whiskey selection. Soon, The Whiskey Ring will introduce a monthly outdoor concert series sponsored by local whiskey brand Withered Oak. The series is being produced in connection with the bar’s renown Western Wear Night, which began as “a group of friends dressing up like cowboys,” says owner John Joern. Little known fact: The Whiskey Ring was at one time the top-seller of Stag Beer in the world, and remains competitive to this day.
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The Fortune Teller Bar — 2635 Cherokee
Go for: the hidden back patio
Fortune says you would be remiss not to visit this time-tested bar and its hidden patio in the back. Fortune Teller Bar was the first of several Cherokee bars to open since a revival of the street’s nightlife began in the early 2010s. Not only can you enjoy a great cocktail and have your fortune read here, but the bar’s back patio is the hidden oasis you’ve been meaning to visit. Original Family Smokehouse, a plant-based bbq outfit run by Brandon Gilliam, runs the kitchen at Fortune Teller and offers up delicious vegan & gluten-free treats.
“Before the pandemic, our back patio was primarily a parking pad, but out of necessity and with a little bamboo fencing and a ton of plants, we transformed it into a little secret outdoor oasis,” said owner Matt Thenhaus.
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'Ssippi —2926 Cherokee St.
One of the newest bars on the street is also becoming known as one of the best patios in St. Louis.
'Ssippi wine bar opened July 2022 and specializes in natural wines, with a variety of cocktails on draft and canned beers. They also offer a handful of small snacks, perfect for enjoying on their shaded back patio. Stakeout one of the large picnic tables for your group on enjoy a quiet moment in the benches and nooks throughout the yard.
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Earthbound Beer — 2724 Cherokee
Go for: The multi-level patio, garden and walk-up window to order outside
The Earthbound patio is a great spot to catch food pop-ups during the warmer months, and of course, enjoy a variety of fresh beer from one of St. Louis’ most inspired breweries. Earthbound’s patio is multi-level, which means you can hang up top to watch the passersby and get some rays, or retreat to the level below for some privacy and shade. The patio also offers a walk-up window for those who want to limit their time indoors as much as possible.
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Yaqui's On Cherokee —2728 Cherokee
Go for: The pizza and wine, music seven nights a week, and summer curbside concerts
Yaquis is the neighborhood spot for pizza, wine and nightly free music. The bar and restaurant also offers a sidewalk patio that gets expanded into the street on Saturdays during the warmer months. From April through October, Yaquis puts on a curbside concert series every Saturday from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.. Grab a table outside, order a glass of wine, a cocktail and/or some pizza, and enjoy some of the best local music in the area.
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La Vallesana - 2801 Cherokee St
Go for: the excellent Mexican fare, margaritas and people watching
As we mentioned in our La Calle Cherokee Food Guide, La Vallesana has grown from a small ice cream shop into one of Calle Cherokee’s largest and most bustling restaurants, with a large outdoor patio. The patio is one of the best spots on Cherokee for drinks and people watching on a warm afternoon. Go ahead and get the margarita served in a big pineapple. It comes with two straws, but there’s no need to share. Also, don’t miss out on the quesadillas, tortas, tacos, and ice cream.
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Saturn Lounge - 1915 Cherokee St
Cruise down Cherokee Street's Antique Row and you'll find Saturn Lounge, with a spacious front patio decorated with string lighting. The bar was opened in July 2022 by proprietor Doug Morgan, also known as host for KDHX's show Record Sto'.
Doug's music background shines through in this space with his large collection of vinyl records hanging over the bar. Their patio is also located across the street from Dead Wax Record shop, making for a perfect one two punch for audiophiles. Best part? Drinking hour starts at 3PM.
